Covering for traction-cables



(No Model.) 7

T. E. McGANN.

COVE-RING FOR TRAGTION GABLES.

No. 358,160. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

' ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MOOANN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COVERING FOR TRACTION-CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,160, dated February 22, 1887.

Application tiled December 3, 1886. Serial Nov 220.573. (No model.)

To aZZ. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. l\ICOANN,Of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Covering for Traction-Oables, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to furnish for the traction-cables of cable railroads a new and improved covering which will protect the cables and the car-grips from the extreme wear to which they are at present subjected, and will in no wise impair either the flexibility or efficiency of the cables.

The invention consists of a cable-covering formed of an endless series of tubular sections strung on the cable and connected flexibly together, as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation representing my improved cable-covering applied and in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the cable-covering applied. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the tubular covering-sections.

The cable A is of the usual description,and on it are strung an endless series of tubular sections, B, one end of each of which is concaved and the other end correspondingly convexed, the convex end of each section fitting closely and smoothly in the concave end of the next succeeding, so that a ball-and-socket or universal joint is formed between each section.

The sections B are preferably of cast metal, as iron, but may be made of any other material capable of withstanding the great wear due to the action of the gripping devices of the cars, and possessing sufficient economy.

The sections are strung closelyon the cable, as above stated, and at the splice in the cable they may either be made in halves,secured in any suitable way together, or they may be formed by pouring the melted material into suitable molds surrounding the cable, which latter method is preferred. A continuous flexible cable-covering is thus formed, which will receive the wear at present falling on the cable-strands, thereby entirely protecting the same from destruction, and will further prevent the cutting ofthe grippingjaws or sheaves by the strands, and thus greatly increase the durability of the gripping devices.

The sections can be cheaply manufactured by casting, and the covering can be easily applied to cables in present use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to sccu re by Letters Patent, is

1. A protective covering for traction-cables, consisting of a series of tubular sections connected by ball-and-socket joints, substantially as shown and described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a tubular cable-covering section convex at one end and concave at the other,substantially as specified.

THOMAS E. MOOANN.

Witnesses:

CHARLI WEIss, FRANK O. 'HOFF1\[AN. 

